Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Sample Preparation Method of Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscope for the Appendages of Woodboring Beetle
Published on: February 3, 2020
Ultrastructure of immature stages of Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) using scanning electron microscopy
Paloma Martins Mendonça1, Rodrigo Rocha Barbosa2, César Carriço2
1Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Setor de Entomologia Médica e Forense, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Doutoranda do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias-Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Abstract:
The blowfly Lucilia cuprina is distributed worldwide and is a mechanical vector of pathogens. It can cause myiasis in humans and is strongly related to forensic entomology, as it is frequently found on human and animal corpses. However, most of the L. cuprina found on corpses are the immature stages of this fly. Correct identification is very important for forensic entomology but at present only the identification keys of adult L. cuprina are available. Thus, the aim of this paper was to describe and analyze the morphological characteristics of all larval instars and the puparia of L. cuprina using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
